Shipping-case



Y. UNTTEE STATES ATENT" ,EEie.

`ANDREW M. PLATT, E NEW HAvEN, CONNECTICUT SHIPPING-CASE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of `Letters Patent No. 293,513, dated February 12, 1884;`

Application filed December 4. 1883. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW M. PLATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the countyofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful ShippingCase, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. e

This invention relates to shipping-cases, and especially to that class of the same which are v adapted to fold up; and it has for its "object to provide means whereby the folding sections will be held together in a safe and secure manner, and may be folded into a very small space when `it is desired to return the case to the owner.

With these objects inview the said invention consists in `securing the sides together by 'spring catches or locks, and in hinging the several sections in such a manner asto allow folding of the same one upon the other in the smallest space possible, and in certain details of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved shipping case in its closed position. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, a portion of the case being open to show the manner in which the case is unpacked. Fig. 3 is a view of the case in its closed position, ready to be returned to its owner. Fig. A Lis a detail view, showing the operation of the spring-catch. Fig. 5 is a sectional view.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, Ais the bottom of my improved shippingcase, having crosspieces a secured to the under side thereof at each end, the ends B B of the case being hinged to the upper face of the bottom, so as to be capable of folding flat against the same.` Vertical strips b b are secured to the outer face of the ends B B on each side, the strips b of the end B extending upward beyond the same and connected bya crossfbar, G, said cross-bar and the extended ends of the strips b iitting within a cut-away portion, c, of the strips b, dat against the end B,when the case folded.

D D designate the sides of the case, `having vertical strips d cl secured to and extending up along the `same on their opposite ends. Hinges e connect the strips d of the side D to the cross-pieces a of the bottom, the adjacent ends-of the strips d and the cross-pieces being beveled or chamfered, as at j', to permit a tight fit when the parts are connected to form the box or case. The side D is hinged directly to a cleat, g, secured to the bottom A, so as to allow the said side to fold over the ends B B', the other side folding against the under side ofthe bottom.

E designates the cover or top piece, comprisingtwo sections or parts, h h, provided with cross-pieces t i on each end, the section or part h being hinged directly to the side D, so as to fold against the inner face of the same, while the cross-pieces i of the other section or part, h', are extended, as at j, and hinged at the extensions to the strips d of the side D', thus permitting the said section h to fold flat against the exterior face of the side D.

In securing the sides and ends of my improved case together I use improved catches or locks, the construction of which is as follows: Rods F project from the sides of the ends' B B, and are provided with beveled catches k, which extend or work through socket-sl in the ends of sides D D. To one side of the socket-s Z are pivoted levers Gr, which engage at their front ends with the catches 7a, projecting through the sockets Z, said levers being provided with a bearing-piece, H, near their center. e Above the levers are projections I of the sides D D', coiled springs J being secured at one end to a lug, m, depending from the projecting from the upper end of the bearingpiece H. To the inner face of the levers G are secured headed studs K, which work in elongated slots L in the sides D D, operatingrods M being secured to the heads of the studs K and working vertically in guides 0, attached to the interior face of thel sides.

`From the foregoing description the operation of the looks or catches will be readily understood. By catching hold of the upper end of therod IVI and drawing the same upward, the lever is disengaged from the `catch k and the spring .I is compressed, and when the rod M is released the spring exerts its power and position.

causes the return of the lever to its normal By means of this construction the levers will always be in position to be operated by vthe insertion of catches 7c through sockets L, the levers fittingl partly over the sockets and adapted to move aside in an upward direction through the yielding of springs J.

It will be seen that each corner of the case is provided with the spring catches or locks, the rods F, with the beveled catches, projecting from the ends B B', while the locking-levers are attached to the sides D D', all portions of thelocking mechanism being concealed from view by suitable inclosing-frames, Z, attached to the upper corners of the sides, and recessed to permit the free movement of the springpressed lever. Headed screws or screweyes N attach the lid or cover sections in place and work through suitable metallic sockets, 0,

in the sections It h' and the ends B B', said screw or screw-eyes being readily detached when it is desired to unpack the contents of the case.

In place of the screws or screw-eyes, I may use pivoted hooks, which may be attached to the ends B B', and catch at their ends through screw-eyes secured to the lid or cover sections.

It will be apparent that I may also use the spring catches or locks to hold the cover in place, thus employing eight locks for each case, the operation and functions of all the catches or locks being the same.

The operation of my invention can be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings. When the shipping-case containing the merchandise has reached its destination, the section or part 7L of the cover is released by withdrawing the screws or other fastenings for the same, and the spring catches or locks on each end of the side D are released, so as to allow said side to drop down in the position shown in Fig. 2, when the contents of the case I- can be readily taken'out, as desired. If it is desired vto return the shipping-case to the owner, as is generally the case, the other section of the cover is permitted to drop down against the outer face of side D', the spring catches or locks of said side being released, thus allowing the ends B B' to fold fiat' against the upper face of the bottom A, one of the sides, D', folding over the ends B B', while the other side, D, folds against the under side of the bottom, each side carrying a section of the cover, as shown. section h' of the cover are attached straps N2, which,when the sections of the case are folded .together in the position shown in Fig. 3,- will engage or connect with projections or studs p, secured to thev other section of the cover. Thus the parts will be held securely together in their folded position, and there will be no danger of separating the same when it is desired to return the folded case to the owner. If it should be desired 'to use the case again for the shipment of merchandise, the side D' To the under side of the is raised, together with the ends B B', the spring-locks at the corners automatically holding the parts in upright position. A certain quantity of the merchandise may be placed in the case, one of the sides being open for that purpose, and then the other side, D, is locked in place, the remainder of the case being filled to the desired height, the sections of the cover or lid being secured in place by the means before stated. When locked in this position, the case will be held firmly together at all corners, and there will be no possible danger of the sections separating for any cause whatever.

The advantages of my invention are obvious. Bymeansoftheimprovedshipping-caseshown, the vmerchandise contained therein may be easily removed,since there will be no necessity of using force to separate the case, such as is used in separating the common boxes ordinarily employed in shipping merchandise. Vhen the entire contents ofthe case have been removed, the case can be folded into the position shown in Fig. 3 and forwarded back to the owner, a labelholder, I), being secured to both the inner and outer faces of the section 7L' of the cover, in which suitable cards or labels containing the names and addresses ofthe receiver and consignor of the case are placed, to be used in forwarding and returning the said case. Vhen the shipping-case is properly constructed, it will be much stronger than the ordinary nailed ease, and can be used until worn out. A large shipping-house, using, say, twelve hundred cases a year, could transact their business with one hundred of v my cases, thereby saving the cost and storage of eleven hundred cases. When thecase is folded IOO together, it occupies a very small space, and

may be packed together in piles until used.

Other advantages ofA my inventionare apparent, and need not be particularly pointed out here.

Having th us described my invention, I claim as newl. In a shipping-case, the ends folded flat against the bottom, and the sides each carrying a section of the cover, one of the sides extending over the folded ends, while the other folds fiat against the under side of the bottom, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a shipping-case, the ends hinged to the upper face of the bottom, and the sides each carrying a section of the cover, one of the sides being hinged to the bottom in such a manner as to fold against the under side of the same, and the other side being hinged to a cleat extending up from the bottom, so as to fold over the ends, the two sections of the cover folding over the sides, and the parts being secured in this position by means of suitable straps, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a shipping-case, the ends hinged to the upper face of the bottom and folding ilat against the same, one of the ends being provided with -a cross-bar overlapping the other end, and the bottom having cross-pieces se- IIO cured to its under side, in combinationwith the sides-provided Withvertical strips, one of the sides being hinged to a cleat projecting up from the bottom7 and the other side having hinges connecting 'its vertical strips to the cross-pieces of the bottom, and the cover or lid formed in two sections or parts, one section being hinged to each side, so as to fold at against the inner and outer faces of the saine, as and foi1 the purpose set forth.

4. In a shippingcase, the sides and endsv hinged to the bottom in any suitable manner, beveled catches or rods projecting from the ends and extending through openings or sockets in the sides, and a sprngpressed lever engaging with the catch and arranged to hold the partsin place, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. -In a shipping case, the sides and ends hinged to the bottom in any suitable manner, beveled catches or rods projecting from the ends and extending through openings orsockets in the sides, and aspring-pressed lever en-v gaging WithV the catch and provided with an operating-rod, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a shipping case, the sides and end s beveled catches or rods projecting from the ends and extending through openings or sockets in the sides, a spring-pressed lever engag ing with the catch, a rod or projection attached to the lever and working in a slot in the sides of the case, and a rod attached to the head of said projection and working in guides on the interior of the said sides, as and for the purpose set forth'.

7 In a shipping case, the ends folding fiat against the. bottom, and the sides carrying a section of the cover, one of the sides extending over the said ends, and the other side fold ing fiat against the under side4 of the bottom, beveled catches projecting from the ends7 and spring pressed levers engaging with said catches, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in presence ot' two Witnesses.

ANDREW M. PLATT.

Vitnesses: j

ALBERT D. PENNEY, J. W. TAYLOR. 

